Romo: ‘I’m not an 8-8 quarterback’

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo confirmed Tuesday he will be involved in formulating game plans, a move he said stems from the club’s desire to do everything it can to snap its three-year playoff drought.

“We were 8-8 the last couple of years and that doesn’t sit well with me,” Romo said. “I don’t think I’m an 8-8 quarterback. I don’t think this organization is comfortable being 8-8.

“…(Being 8-8) just sits there and stares at you. We are going to exhaust everything to make sure this football team gets better and takes the next step.”

For now, though, the only steps Romo will take will come on the sidelines. Speaking to reporters at the start of the team’s offseason workouts in Irving, Romo acknowledged he’ll miss the club’s 10 practices over the next two weeks after undergoing a procedure last month to remove a small non-cancerous cyst from his back.

“(The cyst) was something that was kind of annoying, so you’d rather feel 100 percent,” Romo said. “Hopefully, I’ll be back for minicamp (June 11-13) and be ready to go. We’re just being smart right now.”

Romo said he didn’t notice the cyst until about two weeks after he signed a blockbuster six-year, $108 million contract extension.

“It was just kind of like, ‘What is this? Let’s go take care of this,’ ” he said.
News that Romo would be involved in game planning came after the draft when owner Jerry Jones told reporters that the quarterback, in the wake of signing the richest contract in club history, would be putting in Peyton Manning-like time at Valley Ranch.

After chiding the media for the way it covered the story, Romo said it would be wrong to interpret Jones’ comments as a sign the club wants him to spend more time on the job.

“I’m here,” Romo said. “I’m always at the facility. There is nothing different than what I did in the in the past. If you talk to any of the coaches, I’m around. I’m a gym rat and I will always be that way.”

Romo said the accurate way to interpret Jones’ comments is that the club wants him to have a more direct line of communication with the coaches, something Manning has long enjoyed.

“(Having gone) through the fire a little bit and having the understanding of the years behind you, allows you to speak more confidently (to the coaches about) what you might like,” Romo said.

“I believe in some things I think can help us win football games.

The older you get the more you have an understanding of the plays and of what is successful.”

With Romo sidelined, Kyle Orton will receive the bulk of the first-team snaps. Coach Jason Garrett said he isn’t concerned about Romo missing time that would allow him to become familiar with a trio of rookies: center Travis Frederick, wide receiver Terrance Williams and tight end Gavin Escobar.

“There’ll be plenty of work” once training camp starts, Garrett said.

Notes: Running back DeMarco Murray missed practice with a sore hamstring…Garrett said the club is still in discussions about who will call offensive plays.